Herd's Scottish Songs, 1769, p. 303: I, 162, ed. 1776,
| 1 |
Livd ance twa luvers in yon dale,
And they luvd ither weel;
Frae evning late to morning aire
Of luving luvd their fill. |
| 2 |
'Now, Willie, gif you luve me weel,
As sae it seems to me,
Gar build, gar build a bonny schip,
Gar build it speedilie. |
| 3 |
'An we wLl saL the sea sae g-een,
Unto some far countrie,
Or we'll sail to some bonie isle,
Stands lanely midst the sea.' |
| 4 |
But lang or ere the schip was built,
Or deckd, or rigged out,
Came sick a pain in Annet's back
That down she coud na lout. |
| 5 |
'Now, Willie, gif ye luve me weel,
As sae it seems to me,
O haste, haste, bring me to my bowr,
And my bowr-maidens three.' |
| 6 |
He's taen her in his arms twa,
And kissd her, cheik and chin;
He's brocht her to her ain sweet bowr,
But nae bowr-maid was in. |
| 7 |
'Now leave my bower, Willie,' she said,
'Now leave me to my lane;
When she was travelling.' |
| 8 |
He's stepped three steps down the stair,
Upon the marble stane;
Sae loud's he heard his young son's greet,
But and his lady's mane! |
| 9 |
'Now come, now come, Willie,' she said,
'Tak your young son frae me,
And hie him to your mother's bower,
With speed and privacie.' |
| 10 |
He's taen his young son in his arms,
He's kissd him, cheik and chin;
He's hied him to his mother's bower,
By th' ae light of the moon. |
| 11 |
And with him came the bold barone,
And he spake up wi pride:
'Gar seek, gar seek the bower-maidens,
Gar busk, gar busk the bryde.' |
| 12 |
'My maidens, easy with my back,
And easy with my side;
O set my saddle saft, Willie,
I am a tender bryde.' |
| 13 |
When she came to the burrow-town,
They gied her a broch and ring,
And when she came to . . .,
They had a fair wedding. |
| 14 |
O up then spake the norland lord,
And blinkit wi his ee:
'I trow this lady's born a bairn,'
Then laucht loud lauchters three. |
| 15 |
And up then spake the brisk bridegroom,
And he spake up wi pryde:
'Gin I should pawn my wedding-gloves,
I will dance wi the bryde.' |
| 16 |
'Now had your tongue, my lord,' she said,
'Wi dancing let me be;
I am sae thin in flesh and blude,
Sma dancing will serve me.' |
| 17 |
But she's taen Willie be the hand,
The tear blinded her ee:
'But I wad dance wi my true-luve,
But bursts my heart in three.' |
| 18 |
She's taen her bracelet frae her arm,
Her garter frae her knee:
'Gie that, gie that to my young son,
He'll neer his mother see.'
* * * * * |
| 19 |
'Gar deal, gar deal the bread, mother,
Gar deal, gar deal the wyne;
This day hath seen my true-love's death,
This nicht shall witness myne.' |
